Container



1964 H. c. STRICKER, JR

CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1958 INVENTOR. H (3. $772 10K5 KJ' Jan. 21, 1964 H. c. STRICKER, JR

CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10, 1958 INVENTOR. C. 57'? IC KER7 United States Patent 3,118,559 (IQNTAENER Henry C. Striclrer, 3L,Edgerton, Win, assignor, by inesne assignments, to Highway Trailerindustries, inc Edgerton, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. lb,195%, Eer. No. 779,442 4 Claims. (ill. 22--9) This invention relates tocontainers, and more particularly to containers which are oftendescribed as shipping or warehousemans containers.

Containers of the class to which this invention relates, are mostcommonly used for shipment of goods overseas, and as such are returnedand re-usable for subsequent shipment. Such containers often areintended to enclose and keep in usable condition products which areserniperishable and often times such products as are adversely affectedby moisture.

As a particular example of products which are shipped in containers ofthe class described, it may be noted that coffee beans are often handledin this manner, the beans being placed in bags and the bags in turn inmetal containers which are usually of light metal such as aluminum orthe like for the obvious reasons of weight saving purposes.

f /hen containers of metal are used, these being generally more easilyreinforced and thus subject to more frequent handling with less damage,condensation ithin the container often develops by reason of the changein climate to which the containers are subjected in srdprnent fromcountries such as South America to the United States. Gbviouslycondensation promotes certain fun-gas growth which is damaging to theproducts and desirably necessarily eliminated as much as possible.

The present invention is, generally speaking, directed to the particularphase of containers which relates to the development of condensationtherein and is intended to eliminate damage caused by such condensation,so as to provide suitable dry containers, irrespective of the varyingclimates through which the containers may pass before reaching theirdestination to have the goods therewitlin removed therefrom.

h the foregoing general understanding set forth it is a principal objectof this invention to provide a container which is suitable for shipmentof goods therein, which container will eliminate the damage caused bycondensation, permitting circulation into the container andsubstantially excluding condensation from developing therein in such amanner as to damage goods enclosed thereby.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a container inwhich a double skin so to speak is availed of :to provide for theentrance of air and the egress of moist air from within the container tothereby cause the condensation to drain to the exterior of the containerand prevent the same from passing into the interior thereof in such amanner as would damage the contents.

An even more particular object of the invention is to provide acontainer in which the inner and outer walls are arranged in conjunctionwith the structural members of the container to comprise a series ofcells arranged in such a manner as to permit air circulation through thecells to the interior of the container and permit likewise thecondensation developing to pass downwardly through the cells and out tothe outside of the container.

Yet another object of the invention is to pr vide a suitable ceilingarrangement within the container whereby the said ceiling is perforatedin such a manner as to permit the moisture laden vapor to pass outwardlytherethrough and if condensation takes place on the under side of thetop or roof of the container said condensation in dripping downwardlywill pass downwardly toward the "ice sides and into the cellularconstruction of the sides and hence downwardly and outwardly from thecontainer.

Another important object of the invention, is to provide for what may betermed drainage and breather units arranged in the wall construction insuch a manner as to receive condensation passing downwardly between theinner and outer walls and cause said condensation to be directedoutwardly of the container entirely through suitable openings providedin the outer wall therefor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container inwhich the ceiling construction is perforated as set forth hereinbefore,the perforations having lip-s therearound extending upwardly from theupper side of the ceiling whereby moisture running down over the surfaceor" the upper side of the ceiling will be prevented from passing backinto the perforations and more particularly be directed toward suitabledrainage and breather units at the lower most portions of the containerso as to be removed from the container by gravity.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood rom aconsideration of the specification appended hereto and shown in thedrawings wherein:

FZGURE 1 is a perspective View of a container embodying the inventionhereof, certain elements being broken away to more particularlyillustrate the construction of the container.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation in section of the container shown in FIGURE1 likewise further illustrating further details of construction.

FEGURE 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing themanner of connecting the ceiling with the roof joists.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of one part of the connectionof the ceiling and inner wall of the container.

5 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the relationof the drainage and breather units With the wall construction.

Pl -URE 6 is a perspective view showing a drainage and breather unit.

FIGURE 7 is a side view illustrating the said drainage and breather unitin somewhat enlarged detail.

Turning now to a consideration of the drawings, the container hereofwhich has been previously suggested is of the so-oalled warehousenranstype, is shown in FEGURE l in perspective as including th top 1, sides 2and 3, the front side being designated 4. The rear side in thisparticular instance is formed by a pair of doors 5 and 6 which aresuitably hingedly connected at 7 for example to the sides 2 and 3, saiddoors being swingable and perrnitting access to the interior of thecontainer. As will be probably understood, the containers of this natureare of rather large size and facilitate the placement therein ofquantities of foods such as coffee beans by hand trucks or other means,the containers being of such a size as to permit access by individualsas necessary. The doors 5 and 6 may be provided with any suitable latchmeans designated 8 and not otherwise shown in detail. The

door construction is largely identical to the side con- 1 struction andthe construction of the side such as f. illustrates the similarity,although the side 3 wih be described in particular detail with referenceto FIGURE 2 and subsequent figures.

The sides of the container are constructed of an outer skin such as 9wMch in many containers and in this one as an example maybe of aluminumand thus a smooth member, constituting an aluminum wall extending from alowermost position at a skid member 19 to a top rail 11.

The inner wall denoted 12 is as shown in the FIGURE 5 disclosureconstructed of plywood for example indicated at 13 to which is securedas by bonding, a metallic sheath, in this instance preferably aluminum,denoted 14. The

interior of the entire container is therefore wooden as far as the sidesare concerned at least that in so far as the portion which is exposed toview.

The aluminum sheath plywood combination 13 and 14, is in turn suitablyfastened to vertically extending stakes denoted 15 which are likewisepreferably of aluminum and of hat-shape in cross section or any otherpreferred shape as will be readily understood by those skilled in theart, the inner wall 12 being spaced from said stakes 15 by means of awood strip such as indicated in FIGURE 4 at 16, the stakes beingcommonly secured as by riveting at 17 to the elements previouslydescribed including the wood strips 16 and the inner wall 12.

Extending transversely from the upper rail 11 are the roof joists 18which roof joists support a sheet aluminum roof covering 19 thereon andat their central portion are provided with a ridge pole shown inenlarged detail in FIGURE 3 at 2%, the ridge pole being secured to thejoists by means of the rivets such as 21.

The ridge pole 2% is in turn provided with a pair of grooves such as 22,which in turn support the inner edges of sheathed plywood sheets such ascomprise the inner walls 12, the plywood sheet being indicated at 23 andthe metallic sheath being denoted 24.

The ceiling is therefore arranged as shown in the F1"- URE 2 disclosureso that it slopes outwardly from the ridge pole to the outer edges andis supported by suitable short angle members denoted 25 in turn suitablyriveted at 2d to the stakes 15 whereby the outer edges of the ceilingsheets are supported on the upper edges of the inner walls 12additionally having the ribbons 28 afiixed thereto to provide greaterbearing for the outer edges of the ceiling sheets.

The ceiling sheets of the ceiling itself are arranged so as to beperforated in a manner such as is indicated in detail in FIGURE 3,suitable openings in the ceiling being provided, about one per squarefoot, and consisting of a half inch hole for example denoted 3G in thewood 23 of the ceiling. The metallic sheath portion is extended to forma lip such as 31 around each hole, the opening therein being somewhatsmaller than the opening 39 for purposes which will be subsequently setforth. All of the perforations in the ceiling are of this nature and areprovided in this manner so that moisture laden air in passing from theinterior of the container upwardly through the openings 36 will condenseon the under side of the roof or top 19, subsequently drop off the roof,and run downwardly over the ceiling to the cells provided by the innerand outer walls previously described in combination with the stakes asindicated.

When the moisture reaches the cells, and passes downwardly therein, itwill be collected at the bottom of each cell by a drainage and breatherunit generally denoted 32, and more particularly shown in FIGURE 6 ascomprising a generally rectilinear member which may be formed of wood orsimilar material having in its upper surface a generally V-shaped groovedenoted 33. The apex of such V-shaped groove at 34- causes moisture toflow into suitable vertically extending openings 65' in the body of thebreather unit 32 and thence downwardly to a slot which may likewise beV-shaped in cross section as indicated at 36 in FIGURE 5. The slot 36 isarranged as shown in FIGURE 6 so that the end sections 37 and 33 aresomewhat higher than the central portion 39. Thus moisture passingthrough the vertically extending openings 35 will collect at thejuncture of the sections at 39.

The breather units 32 now being described are located in the bottoms ofthe cells about as indicated in FIG- URE 1 with the portions of each ofthe slots 36 at 39 opposite an opening such as 49, which opening 49 isin the outer wall 9 of the container. Thereby when moisture collects inthe groove 33 and passes downwardly through the openings 35, thence intothe slot 36, it will in turn pass outwardly through the opening 40 mdthus out of the container completely. The breather and drainage units 32are located about as shown in FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 5 in relation to thecontainer itself so that these units are below the floor 42 and thusjust above the skid members 1% and thereby are in the lowest placepossible with relation to the container as a whole.

The floor 4 2 may be prefenably a hard wood floor and supported onsuitable joists such as 43 fastened in any preferred manner to the restof the container so as to completely enclose same and provide added ornecessary rigidity thereby.

It will of course be understood that a drainage and breather unit willbe provided at the bottom of each of the cells or between the stakes 15'as the case may be, the doors 5 and 6 being similarly arranged toprovide for drainage of moisture collecting therein.

The foregoing description of the novel container hereof, discloses theunique manner in which moisture is prevented from causing harm withinthe container, since condensation which may take place will take placebetween the walls and between ceiling and roof or top as the case may beand moisture developed thereby will pass downwardly and out of thecontainer so as not to damage goods therewithin. The drainage andbreather units are so arranged as to collect the moisture and the use ofmetallic sheaths and wooden inner walls is such as to prevent themoisture from damaging the walls and yet availing of the insulatingprotective qualities of the wood with which the same is associated.

I claim:

1. In container construction of the class described, in combination, afloor assembly including a floor member, spaced inner and outer wallsconstituting sides extending upwardly from said assembly, drainage andbreather units for said sides located below the floor member between thewalls and providing for drainage of condensation formed between thewalls outwardly from the walls and admission of air between the walls, atop fastened at least to the outer walls, a ceiling spaced from the top,spanning the space between the inner walls and arranged to causecondensation formed thereon to be directed to the space between thewalls, the space between the walls being divided into verticallyextending cells, said drainage and breather unit being located at thelowest position in each of said cells, and the ceiling is provided witha series of perforations therein whereby the passage of air into and outof the container through such perforations between the top and ceiling,to the cells mentioned and into and out of the units is facilitated,said units providing for drainage as stated,

said inner wall and ceiling being formed of metal sheathed wood-likematerial, the metal sheath being arranged to face outwardly, and theperforations in the ceiling including openings in which the portions ofthe openings extending through the metal sheath are bent upwardly toform lips therearound.

2. In container construction of the class described, in combination, afloor assembly including a floor member, spaced inner and outer wallsconstituting sides extending upwardly from said assembly, drainage andbreather units for said sides located below the floor member between thewalls and providing for drainage of condensation formed between thewalls outwardly from the walls and admission of air between the walls, atop fastened at least to the outer walls, a ceiling spaced from the top,spanning the space between the inner walls and arranged to causecondensation formed thereon to be directed to the space between thewalls, the space be tween the walls being divided into verticallyextending cells, said drainage and breather unit being located at thelowest position in each of said cells, and the ceiling is provided witha series of perforations therein whereby the passage of air into and outof the container through such perforations between the top and ceiling,to the cells mentioned and into and out of the units is facilitated,said units providing for drainage as stated, the drainage and breatherunits each comprising a body having a trough-like upper portion, a slotextending from one side into the body, said slot being located inalignment with an opening in the outer wall for each cell, and means toconnect the trough-like upper portion with the slot aforesaid to providea moisture passage, whereby condensation coliected in said trough-hireportion will pass to the slot and thence to an opening in the outer wallfor the drainage described.

3. In portable container construction of the class described, incombination, spaced inner and outer walls between which condensation isformed, said inner and outer walls constituting a side, and severalsides being provided, a top extends between the sides, a ceiling isspaced from the top and spans the space between the sides, meanspositioned in the space between said walls comprising drainage andbreather units in which condensation is collected and from which thesame is directed by means provided through the outer wall, said ceilinghaving perforations therein, in which the portions adjacent the openingsare bent upwardly to form lips therearound, the ceiling being arrangedto cause condensation formed thereon to pass into the space between thewalls and thence to the breather units aforesaid.

4. In portable container construction of the class described, incombination, spaced inner and outer walls between which condensation isformed, and means positioned in the space between said walls comprisingdrainage and breather units, said drainage and breather units in turneach comprising a body having a trough-like upper pontion, a slotextending from one side into the body, said slot being located inalignment with an opening in the outer wall and means to connect thetrough-like upper portion with the slot aforesaid to provide a moisturepassage whereby condensation collected in said trough-like portion willpass to the slot and thence to an opening in the outer wall for thedrainage described.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS289,833 Hartman Dec. 11, 1883 1,705,928 Lambert Mar. 19, 1929 2,019,194Munters Oct. 29, 1935 2,150,181 Munters Mar. 14, 1939 2,192,933 SaborskyMar. 12, 1940 2,553,881 Suttles May 22, 1951 2,645,824 Titsworth July21, 1953 2,804,657 Munters Sept. 3, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 722,688 FranceJan. 4, 1932

1. IN CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, IN COMBINATION, AFLOOR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A FLOOR MEMBER, SPACED INNER AND OUTER WALLSCONSTITUTING SIDES EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID ASSEMBLY, DRAINAGE ANDBREATHER UNITS FOR SAID SIDES LOCATED BELOW THE FLOOR MEMBER BETWEEN THEWALLS AND PROVIDING FOR DRAINAGE OF CONDENSATION FORMED BETWEEN THEWALLS OUTWARDLY FROM THE WALLS AND ADMISSION OF AIR BETWEEN THE WALLS, ATOP FASTENED AT LEAST TO THE OUTER WALLS, A CEILING SPACED FROM THE TOP,SPANNING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE INNER WALLS AND ARRANGED TO CAUSECONDENSATION FORMED THEREON TO BE DIRECTED TO THE SPACE BETWEEN THEWALLS, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE WALLS BEING DIVIDED INTO VERTICALLYEXTENDING CELLS, SAID DRAINAGE AND BREATHER UNIT BEING LOCATED AT